Bleck Cra on Slieve Commedagh

There are days when nature conspires to make the mountains so beautiful, she breaks your heart. Sunday 28th November 2004 in the Mourne Mountains, was one such day. A wistful, wandering way through a world of up-ended conifers at the hem of Commedagh’s petticoats; snap-dry branches amongst glistening holly and feather-down moss; draw clean blood on barbed wire and emerge on golden pastures to the Pots of Pulgarve: God’s amphitheatre on the Glen River, Dundrum Bay and beyond, where none but the ravens take their seats; so often black misted, but today every lethal rock pinsharp - all pointing down. To an ice-cold wall and drop along the ridge to Hare’s Gap - a canary-coloured winter sun like a match-head: suddenly blazing, suddenly cold as ash, shooting black shadow shafts into silken crags - and at all times the scent of snow in her wake. Meelmore and Meelbeg, from the North and East, grey-cold like wet newsprint and presenting fantastical scenes of ancient Dalriada, as fat satin ravens perform a last night before winter’s cold curtain comes down. Off Bearnagh and East - the root of a rainbow hangs like a huge kite between the lodge and Castewellan, breathing her fairy breath into the glen and suddenly the night looms, casting a palate of blues and lilacs over Binnian-to-Beg; the pace quickens to the saddle and blues melt to pinks and greens and a canter off Donard to the forest road. Night has fallen, the wood whispers; a wide sweep East and below, a carpet of fairy lights from Hilltown to Dundrum, from the Shimna River to Downpatrick. A warm car like a butterfly cucoon, on the Castlewellan Road, South the matt black silhouette of these stunning hills against an ink sky, North a full moon dozing between linen sheets. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/63/comment/1345/

Read Less

shippy on Slieve Commedagh

Picture below shows the first walk of the new Navan hillwalking club (no offical name yet) ,on top of Commedagh .We climbed Donard first , from the carpark , through the forest and up by the glen river.Came back down to the col and followed the brandy pad to see the castles . From there we went to meet the wall again on the other side of Commedagh and followed it to the summit . It's a nice way to climb Commedagh as you get to see the Annalong valley in its entirety .From the summit we headed back down ,via Shan Slieve, towards the forest with great views of Donard on the way. An enjoyable walk for our first one as a club . Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/63/comment/1493/

Read Less

Bleck Cra on Slieve Commedagh

Poor old Commedagh - bass player of the fab five, fronted by Donard and backed by the Bearnagh Sisters.
Dull to look at, heather to trail through, wind to cut you in half. In such wind you can of course open your mouth and do Wallace and Gromit faces - sure we make our own fun.
But …… who gives you baffling volcanic globulets? Binnian and Commedagh. Who gives you glorious views of Dundrum Bay? Donard and Commedagh. Who gives you the wickedest drops (from the track)? Cove and Commedagh. Is a pattern not emerging?
Nevertheless in most aspects one cannot underrate Commedagh enough. She is desperately dull to walk, has a thoroughly annoying incline on the Annalong side and thoroughly annoying terrain on the Newcastle side. She is neither bad enough nor good enough. But if you took her show-off neighbours out of the picture, would we not flock to her? Incidentally there are far too many sheep on her.
She stands a sound Corbett 2517 - every inch from sea level. With a bit of vis - sometimes uniquely absent from her peculiar, lonely top, you can see to just about wherever you like, Wicklow, Ellan Vannin, Scotland and worse: North Antrim.
Her pots, the Pots of Pulgarve, are sensational except to the odd unfortunate who occasionally steps out into their infinity: they present a breathtaking tableau of Eagle Rock, Dundrum Bay framed by her and Bro Donard and thousands of fag-smoking ants scurrying up and down the Glen River. And best of all she is one of only 2 spots in the Mournes expanse where you can see raven junior being taught to fly, the old “spare the rod” way. The other, I keep a guarded secret.
Contributor Craigie’s 2 car contortion is fine, but try also Glen River ascent from Newcastle’s Donard carpark with Beginner Book for Boys stroll on to Donard, back down on to The Saddle and up Commedagh. Follow the pots back down Commedagh’s spine into breathtaking vistas and exquisite Donard Wood and back into Donard carpark. Go to pub and enthuse about Commedagh …. endlessly. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/63/comment/1118/

Read Less

Harry Goodman on Slieve Commedagh

Encouraged by the glorious covering of snow on the High Mournes above Newcastle we climbed Slieve Commedagh on Tuesday 2 March 2010 from Donard Car Park D (J37500 30675). Initially we went up by the Glen River Track to the gate at DonTrHd (J36450 29625) before turning right and following the forest wall along to a fire break at E (J36350 29750), then up left (SW) to cross a stile out on to the open hillside. Once across we headed W up to and over the rocky face of Slievenamaddy, the first part of the approach to Commedagh. From here we continued to follow the ridge up to and past the cairn on Shan Slieve, around the edge of the Pot of Pulgarve to our left before making the final climb up to the summit of Commedagh at 767m F (J34600 28600). It is also worth noting that climbing the mountain from Donard Park means that you climb the full height from sea level. While our climb up the snow slope was at times slow, but steady, the reward at the top was well worth the effort. Before us in all directions were the snow covered High Mournes. Having taken in the magnificent panorama we made the short descent across Commedagh's flattish top to the Mourne Wall and Shelter Tower G (J34000 28475) were we had our lunch sheltered from the strong wind that had been in our face during the climb. While the snow we experienced on the way up had been extensive in its cover we were surprised to find that it was deep enough, in places, to allow us to walk up and over the wall. Once fed and watered we dropped down to the saddle between Commedagh and Donard. Our original intention had been to descend by the Glen River Track NNE back to Donard Park but the prevailing snow conditions and the knowledge that they would soon be gone spurred us on to climb Donard before dropping down NE past the Lesser Cairn and then NNE over Millstone Mountain. From there we descended NNW down the ridge and around the quarry fence to the forest track which we then followed NW down to the Glen River and down to the start at Donard Park. This is a circuit that I would commend to any one wishing to climb the two highest mountains in the Mournes (as well as the highest peak in Ulster) with a third top (Millstone ) for good measure. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/63/comment/4521/

Read Less

Cascade River circuit

I climbed this mountain yesterday as part of a circular walk which included Luke's Mountain, Slieve Corragh and Shanslieve. Starting off from Meelmore Lodge, we followed the lane up to the stile and headed towards the Trassey track. After a short while on this track we turned left and headed towards Luke's Mountain. The terrain is very marshy and pathless at times, and as such I would strongly recommend gaiters. This was my first time on Luke's Mountain; it offers very nice views of Slieve Croob, Murlough bay and Tollymore forest. Thereafter we headed alongside the valley between Corragh and Commedagh. The terrain is quite steep on the ascent of Corragh. After reaching the Mourne wall at Corragh we turned left and made our way to the summit of Commedagh. Cloud formations and gusts of wind produced a great atmosphere as mountains, previously covered in cloud, appeared gradually as the mist cleared. After a short break on Commedagh, we headed NW over the ridge between Commedagh and Shanslieve. This is a very good ridge walk in the Mournes, but one which I would not advise in poor visibility, as it is quite steep on both sides. Upon reaching Shanslieve, very fine views opened up of Newcastle, Murlough Bay, Bernagh, Corragh, Slievenaglogh and Meelmore. The descent towards the valley is very steep and walking poles are an advantage. Care must be taken when crossing the river towards Luke's mountain. The full walk took 7 hours, but one which I would recommend - tollymore forest, ridge walk between Commedagh and Shanslieve and the views from Shanslieve - being the notable highlights. This was the first time I had climbed Commedagh from Meelmore Lodge; other possible approaches would be Trassey track up to Hare's Gap and follow the wall over Slievenaglogh and Corragh, and Donard Car park to the saddle and turn left at the wall. Another option would be starting at Donard park, ascending Shanslieve and turning left towards the summit. While all four approaches are viable, I think the best approach is starting from Meelmore Lodge or Trassey. The views of Tullymore forest and from the Mourne wall at Corragh are more interesting than the valley between Donard and Commedagh. Linkback: mountainviews.ie/summit/63/comment/6156/

Read Less